Part 10 (1/2)

”Some people don't have anyone to play with and have to listen to everyone else getting their d.a.m.n rocks off.”

”Uh, sorry.” Drew felt her face flame with embarra.s.sment.

”Man, that's uncalled for. Don't embarra.s.s her.” Jeb took a step toward Kenny.

Drew stepped between them and put a hand on each man's chest.

”That's enough. I'm fine, Jeb. I just hadn't thought about it, and it's not fair to Kenny. His lover is all the way in town.”

”Well, the weather is cooperating right now, so I should be able to go visit him soon.” Kenny sighed.

”Do you think we could make it to town tomorrow?” Jeb asked.

Kenny looked over at Drew and shrugged. ”I guess you could try.”

”If we can, Drew, you and I are going to town. I need to check in with the sheriff, and we need to get those supplies. Then, Kenny, you and Marshall can go the next day.”

”Sounds like a plan,” Kenny groused.

”What's going on down here?” Marshall asked bounding down the stairs.

”We're planning a trip into town,” Drew said.

”Count me in.”

”You and Kenny are going the day after we do,” Jeb told him.

”That sucks.”

”Poor choice of words, Marshall,” Kenny complained.

”Oh! Sorry.”

”Come on. I'm going outside so I can cool off.” Kenny grabbed his coat and shoved his arms into it.

”Kenny, you and Marshall go tomorrow. We can wait.” Drew eyed Jeb and dared him to say anything.

Jeb just shrugged and nodded his head.

Kenny smiled and opened the door wide enough to swamp them all in cold air.

”b.a.s.t.a.r.d,” Jeb said as he wrapped his arms around Drew.

Chapter Ten.

Marshall and Kenny pulled into town after a slippery slide from the house. They were both glad to have made it without ending up in a ditch. With the weather warming up, the roads were thawing but refreezing again at night. Getting started early meant they drove on a solid sheet of ice for the first few miles.

Kenny ambled off to visit Robert over at the livery where he did a lot of his work. He still made house calls, but many people just brought their horses to him to avoid the extra cost. Marshall watched him go then looked up and down the street until his eyes focused on the sheriff's office attached to the courthouse. He walked down the sidewalk, ignoring the strange and outright hostile looks he got as he went by. He was used to them by now, for the most part.

The sheriff was in and motioned him into his office. He closed the door and pulled out a folder from his desk drawer.

”Where's Jeb?”

”He'll be here tomorrow. We aren't leaving either Kenny or Drew alone at the ranch without one of us there. Someone hit Drew over the head the other day and gave her a h.e.l.l of a knot. If it hadn't been snowing so hard, we'd have brought her to the hospital.”

”You should have called me,” the sheriff fussed.

”No phone service. Believe me, we needed help. Didn't have a clue who was out there, or if they would strike again.” Marshall stretched his legs out in front of him.

”h.e.l.l, I had hoped things would have stopped by now after there hadn't been anything in so long.”

”I think Drew just hasn't told you about the petty things. Someone keeps putting weevils in her feed, for one thing.”

”How do you plan on keeping her safe and helping her without using guns?” The sheriff stared straight into his eyes.

”We plan on being smarter than them. But I'll be honest with you. I'll go back to jail before I let anything happen to Drew.” Marshall stared right back at the other man.

”Let's hope it doesn't come to that.”

They shook hands, and Marshall walked outside. He surveyed the town and located the feed store and the grocery store. He would start with the feed. Kenny was supposed to meet him there.

He gave his order to a man at the desk who just stood there and stared at him. When he didn't make any move to start loading the truck, Marshall began to get angry.

”Are you going to fill Drew's order or not?”

”Don't know you from Adam's housecat. I'm not filling anything without proof you work for her.” The insolent man just crossed his arms and leaned against the counter.

Marshall pointed at the truck. ”I'm in a company truck. What more do you need?”

”You could have stolen that truck for all I know. She's had a lot of trouble out there lately.”

”Then call her.”

He didn't seem in all that much of a hurry to call when Kenny stepped into the building and stomped off his boots.

”Why isn't the truck being loaded?” he asked.

”Because this a.s.shole doesn't think I work for Drew.” Marshall shoved his hands on his hips and glared at the man.

”Ricky, this is Marshall. You fill Drew's order for us, or I'll tell your momma on you for holding us up.”

”h.e.l.l, Kenny. How am I supposed to know he really works for her? He's a d.a.m.n convict and could have stolen the truck.”

”Everyone in this town knows they work for Drew. Anyone give her any trouble, and I might just talk Robert into moving to another town. I'm getting tired of all this s.h.i.+t.” Kenny appeared to be in a sour mood.

”What's going on, Kenny?” Marshall asked.